We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Malachi (acoustic) FREE

by Mecca Normal

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

about

FREE

Jean Smith vocals, David Lester guitar, KRAMER on bass and keys.

Malachi Ritscher (1954-2006) was an anti-war activist who made high quality recordings of musicians -- often free jazz and experimental -- performing live in Chicago. After the U.S. invaded Iraq, he became a vocal opponent of the war. His final act of protest was self-immolation.

“If I am required to pay for your barbaric war, I choose not to live in your world. I refuse to finance the mass murder of innocent civilians, who did nothing to threaten our country. I will not participate in your charade -- my conscience will not allow me to be a part of your crusade.”

"Malachi" is a stand-alone track from the "Empathy for the Evil" sessions. Produced and mixed by KRAMER, recorded by Rat Bastard at the Laundry Room in Miami Beach, November, 2012.

The album "Empathy for the Evil" was released by M'lady's Records in September, 2014. It is available here: www.mladysrecords.com

On November 11, 2002, Malachi Ritscher recorded a Mecca Normal set at the Empty Bottle in Chicago and later mailed the band a CD with a photo he took of them after the show. That recording will be part of an exhibit in the 2014 Whitney Biennial, along with David Lester's "Malachi" poster which was created and added to his "Inspired Agitators" poster series after Malachi Ritscher's death in 2006.

The "Inspired Agitators" series has, from its inception, been a compelling collection of graphics and text about activists and actions intending to create progressive social change. It is presented with an artist talk within Mecca Normal's classroom events.

David Lester's "Malachi" poster is available as a free pdf meccanormal.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/november-2013

"Malachi" (acoustic) video: vimeo.com/78823610

In November, 2010, K Records released a studio version of Malachi on a 7" record, the cover of which will be included in the exhibit at the 2014 Whitney Biennial. The cover features a painting by Jean Smith called "Discovering Utopia" jeansmithpainter.wordpress.com/discovering-utopia-2010

In the week of November 11, 2002, Jean Smith and David Lester were artists in residence at the Bottle Cap -- upstairs at the Empty Bottle -- in Chicago. Their two-person art exhibition featured David Lester's "Inspired Agitators" poster series and Jean Smith's "Pint Glass" series of paintings referencing her then two years of sobriety. The event was one of the first in Mecca Normal's ongoing classroom and art gallery presentation called "How Art & Music Can Change the World" howartandmusiccanchangetheworld.wordpress.com

It is interesting to note that Malachi Ritscher saw David Lester's poster series at the Bottle Cap exhibition before he himself was included within it.

lyrics

"Malachi" by Jean Smith

And camera goes click as you press record
and you hand the document to the jazz musician
after they perform

And you talk and you listen
and you protest this war

And there is pain and it instigates change
And there is frustration that your voice is not heard
when you protest the war --
with a sign above your head -- in words

And your camera goes click as you press record
and the can of gasoline is there on the ground
for this final document – your protest against the war
and some of us understood
you know the history well

And your camera goes click as you press record
and you pour the gasoline
and Malachi you light match
that ends your life
in this final statement
and some of us heard your final words

and Malachi you light match
that ends your life
in this final document – your protest against this war
and some of us understood
and some of us heard

your final word

credits

released November 3, 2013

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Mecca Normal Vancouver, British Columbia

“Empathy for the Evil” (2014, M'lady's Records)

Press Kit meccanormal2014.wordpress.com/press-kit

contact / help

Contact Mecca Normal

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Mecca Normal, you may also like: